Axie Infinity Evades Apple Store Tax with Lite-Version Listing

Sky Mavis has launched a lite-version of its strategy-based game Axie Infinity: Origins on the Apple App Store.

Axie Infinity characters attacking a 3D Apple logo above a city skyline.
Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin
  • Apple imposed a 30% tax in 2022 that affected Web3 apps on its platform. 
  • Web3 giant Sky Mavis has found a workaround that allows it to launch its game on the Apple App Store without paying a 30% cut. 
  • Following the launch of Axie Infinity on the App Store, the gameโ€™s native token surged in value. 

Appleโ€™s imposition of a 30% tax on all in-app purchases, including NFT sales, has been a source of significant controversy and frustration among crypto users. The companyโ€™s policy has not only discouraged Web3 projects from launching their apps on the App Store. Still, it has also elicited strong criticism from notable figures within the Web3 community, especially Polygon Studiosโ€™ CEO, Ryan Wyatt, who has described the tax as โ€œcriminal.โ€ 

The strict stance taken by Apple has, unfortunately, hindered NFT adoption among its users. However, there could be a glimmer of hope as one of the top blockchain games, Axie Infinity, has managed to find a workaround that enables them to list their game on the App Store without paying the 30% cut. 

Axie Infinityโ€™s Listing Loophole

Sky Mavis, developers of the hit blockchain game Axie Infinity, has released its card-based game Axie Infinity: Origins to Appleโ€™s App Store in countries where it is popular, including Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Sponsored

The game studio found a loophole that will see its game circumvent both the 30% tax and Appleโ€™s rigorous listing process. It released a Lite version of its game, removing NFT trading from the app entirely. 

The strategy card game is free-to-play and will allow gamers to join without any upfront cost. Players can start the game with free non-NFT starter Axies, shifting away from the original game, requiring users to buy or rent NFTs

Additionally, since the new listing operates on the Sky Mavisโ€™ Ethereum-based Ronin sidechain, Axie players can transfer their Axie NFTs to the game, marking it as the first time Apple has agreed to make an externally-purchased NFT usable on the App Store. 

Axie Infinity Co-founder and COO Aleksander Leonard Larsen has shared that they have been working with Apple for over two years, and the current version is still under development. More features will be announced in the future. 

Axie Infinity launching its game on the Apple App Store is a significant milestone for both the game and the web3 gaming industry. The excitement from the announcement can be seen in the gameโ€™s token, AXS, which has surged in value. 

Axie Infinity AXS Token Lifts Off

Following the App Store launch, Axie Infinityโ€™s native cryptocurrency AXS surged by over 12%, rallying from $7 to peaking at $8, becoming one of the top gainers earlier on May 17th. Notably, and for a short while, AXS experienced its best single-day percentage gain since January 2022. 

Axie Infinity Celebrates

Axie Infinity is holding a special contest in collaboration with QU3ST to commemorate the new release. Users can participate and earn special rewards by creating social content or writing a review for Origins on the App Store. 

On the Flipside

Why You Should Care 

Axie Infinityโ€™s App Store launch marks a major achievement for the Web3 industry and NFT sector and could lead to other games and projects following suit and listing their apps on the Apple Store. 

Catch up on more Apple developments: 

Apple to Launch Its Mixed-Reality Headset This Spring โ€“ A Metaverse Entry?

Solana released a Web3 phone: 

Solanaโ€™s Saga Phone Is Here: Web3 for the Masses?

This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Insha Zia

Insha Zia is a senior journalist at DailyCoin covering crypto developments, especially in the Cardano ecosystem. With a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering, he delivers high-quality articles with his technical background and expertise in data analysis and programming languages, aiming to educate and inform readers accurately, transparently, and engagingly. Insha believes education can drive mass adoption of the crypto space, and he is committed to giving DailyCoin readers a better understanding of the technology.

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